Beeston Weirfields, Notts. Sat. Sept 20th, 2008.
Wollaton Goals: Nick Evans (2)
Team: Reece, Sheldon Miller, Dan Uber, Joe Lewis, Steve Burton, Rocky Bennett-Bull, Micky Evans, Andy Creswell, Nick Evans, Mark Middleton, Chris Fish. Subs: Dave Grantham, Josh Slade, John Baggott (all used)
This has got to be the strangest game of football I've ever played in; ending up 5-2 losers in a game which we were the better team and had the majority of possession and more chances than the opposition. But we were given a harsh lesson by Beeston in how to make capital by finishing in front of goal.
We had the worst start imaginable straight from kick off when we picked the ball up in midfield and sold the keeper short with a back pass which Beeston's striker intercepted and netted one-on-one. That was a lesson to be learnt from; in the first ten minutes keep it simple and play the odds. Beeston had done exactly what we did a week before against old Es; scored with less than a minute on the clock. To be fair, it's so early to score that it almost doesn't have the same effect as going 1-0 up after 20 or 30 minutes.
We responded well to the set back. It was as if our team had been goaded by the goal and immediately we found top gear from the kick off, strung a number of passes together down the right and Nick was played in and we drew level just three minutes. For some reason after that our play became disjointed for twenty minutes, we were knocking the ball long in desperation and giving the ball away cheaply. It was our worst period of the game. It was about five minutes after that when everything changed. We turned a corner, not just in the game but possibly for our season. For the first time in a long while everyone got the ball down and started to play passing football. We've all been talking about for a while but this was the moment the penny dropped for everyone.
We started making proper angles for each other, supporting the man on the ball and retaining possession and for 15 minutes we dominated, hitting the post and we certainly should have drawn level when a superb move involving about 20 passes ended with Nick side footing from the edge of the six yard box but he didn't quite hit it true and Beeston cleared off the line. Beeston were aware they'd gotten out of jail and started to press well and got a second when they sprung our offside trap and lobbed Reece. So despite all the play, we went in at half time 2-1 down and that's how the second half panned out.
We had a huge share of possession and played the better football but didn't take our chances, whilst Beeston made the most of theirs. Cressy had a couple of decent one-on-ones cutting in well from the right but their keeper smothered both efforts. With 20 minutes to go we were still physically fit but not quite mentally fit as lapses in concentration led to cheap balls given away in our own half and Beeston capitalised with speculative efforts which were well converted. Josh Slade came on to offer a glimpse of things to come with some good wing play on the left, setting up Nick with a header to grab a goal back but just when it looked like we were going to spark a comeback Beeston hammered the final nail in the coffin with a fifth goal.
So 5-2 losers and a tough lesson learnt. We should have made more capital with our chances in front of goal but we'd found our passing game and if we can stay true to that form, tighten up on concentration levels and take our chances we'll see a marked change in fortunes.
Man of the Match: Mark Middleton; ever showing for the ball often with his back to goal and with a defender breathing down his neck, great first touches and turns to open up play.
Team: Reece, Sheldon Miller, Dan Uber, Joe Lewis, Steve Burton, Rocky Bennett-Bull, Micky Evans, Andy Creswell, Nick Evans, Mark Middleton, Chris Fish. Subs: Dave Grantham, Josh Slade, John Baggott (all used)
This has got to be the strangest game of football I've ever played in; ending up 5-2 losers in a game which we were the better team and had the majority of possession and more chances than the opposition. But we were given a harsh lesson by Beeston in how to make capital by finishing in front of goal.
We had the worst start imaginable straight from kick off when we picked the ball up in midfield and sold the keeper short with a back pass which Beeston's striker intercepted and netted one-on-one. That was a lesson to be learnt from; in the first ten minutes keep it simple and play the odds. Beeston had done exactly what we did a week before against old Es; scored with less than a minute on the clock. To be fair, it's so early to score that it almost doesn't have the same effect as going 1-0 up after 20 or 30 minutes.
We responded well to the set back. It was as if our team had been goaded by the goal and immediately we found top gear from the kick off, strung a number of passes together down the right and Nick was played in and we drew level just three minutes. For some reason after that our play became disjointed for twenty minutes, we were knocking the ball long in desperation and giving the ball away cheaply. It was our worst period of the game. It was about five minutes after that when everything changed. We turned a corner, not just in the game but possibly for our season. For the first time in a long while everyone got the ball down and started to play passing football. We've all been talking about for a while but this was the moment the penny dropped for everyone.
We started making proper angles for each other, supporting the man on the ball and retaining possession and for 15 minutes we dominated, hitting the post and we certainly should have drawn level when a superb move involving about 20 passes ended with Nick side footing from the edge of the six yard box but he didn't quite hit it true and Beeston cleared off the line. Beeston were aware they'd gotten out of jail and started to press well and got a second when they sprung our offside trap and lobbed Reece. So despite all the play, we went in at half time 2-1 down and that's how the second half panned out.
We had a huge share of possession and played the better football but didn't take our chances, whilst Beeston made the most of theirs. Cressy had a couple of decent one-on-ones cutting in well from the right but their keeper smothered both efforts. With 20 minutes to go we were still physically fit but not quite mentally fit as lapses in concentration led to cheap balls given away in our own half and Beeston capitalised with speculative efforts which were well converted. Josh Slade came on to offer a glimpse of things to come with some good wing play on the left, setting up Nick with a header to grab a goal back but just when it looked like we were going to spark a comeback Beeston hammered the final nail in the coffin with a fifth goal.
So 5-2 losers and a tough lesson learnt. We should have made more capital with our chances in front of goal but we'd found our passing game and if we can stay true to that form, tighten up on concentration levels and take our chances we'll see a marked change in fortunes.
Man of the Match: Mark Middleton; ever showing for the ball often with his back to goal and with a defender breathing down his neck, great first touches and turns to open up play.
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